School season is upon us, and you know what that means — complete chaos! In all seriousness, it can get really difficult to prioritize yourself, especially when you need enough time to study for classes, search for internships, and maintain a balanced social life. New York City has endless things to offer to young adults like us, and although you may want to jump at every opportunity that comes your way, it’s best to schedule some time either alone or with friends in order to maintain a healthy mindset throughout the year.
Maintaining a sense of self love can seem next to impossible, especially when living in a city surrounded by people who seem uninterested in anything but themselves. Since moving here from the Midwest, I often find myself trying to keep up with the masses. I am running around attending numerous events, club meetings, and social gatherings, leaving me with barely any time to breathe. The fear of missing out is completely normal in college, and even more so when studying in the heart of Manhattan surrounded by 8 million other residents. Just recognizing this feeling and setting aside a couple hours for yourself each week can result in an instant mood-booster. In her Psychology Today article Sherrie Carter writes, “Being by yourself with no distractions gives you the chance to clear your mind, focus, and think more clearly. It’s an opportunity to revitalize your mind and body at the same time.”
Here are 4 essential tips to get your routine into gear:
Make a plan for each week
Pull up your phone, or a physical calendar if you’re feeling fancy, and write down class times, appointments, events, and more. Include some additional tasks you want to accomplish throughout the upcoming week — this can include anything from completing assignments, errands, and laundry to finishing your favorite book/movie, going on a long walk or calling your friends and family. I personally like to organize my tasks in the “Mindlist” app. You can make separate, customizable folders for all aspects of your life — for example, the folders I created are labeled “errands”, “school”, “jobs”, “health”, “dance”, and “travel”. I cannot express how relaxed I feel knowing that in just two seconds, I can access my entire to-do list for the week. This app also has symbols and colors you can label each folder with, so get creative!
Keep your space organized
You know what they say: a clean room makes way for a clear mind. There is a great sense of truth in this statement, especially given most of New York’s living circumstances. Whether you reside in a penthouse above Washington Square Park or in a dusty 10-foot wide dorm, we all claim a space here to call “home”, and our priority is to make it feel comforting to return to. Make a routine of organizing your space in a way you enjoy!
Here are some ways I clean my space:
- Do a closet clean out. Get rid of all those tops you keep telling yourself you will wear someday; it’s been two years…
- Make your bed. The more aesthetic your bed looks, the more you will want to keep it that way. No more laying in bed while doing your homework — it only makes you more tired.
- Color code your folders, binders and notebooks. Sounds kind of silly, but trust me, your motivation will only increase. Plus, your room will look ten times more aesthetic.
Get some quality sleep
With more than 8 million residents, there is truth when defining New York City as “the city that never sleeps.” While this idea of going-out till the sun comes up is very much glamorized and wished for, your body needs to rest. Since moving here, I’ve noticed that I simply cannot thrive on my usual 5-hour sleep schedule I followed back at home. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I need at least 9 hours every night here. Though it may be tempting to go out every single night, you need to prioritize yourself. Your body will thank you for giving it proper rest, especially in the much needed midterm season!
Know your routes & leave early
Even if you think you know exactly where you’re going and when to leave, make a habit of checking Google Maps. I cannot stress how important this is, especially if you are new to the city. You may think you know the fastest way to get to your set location, but you may also find that leaving 5 minutes earlier can ease loads of stress about arriving late. Being an NYU student, I know how annoyingly slow the elevators can be, so do yourself a favor! Give yourself that extra 5 minutes. If you have extra time before the door opens, find a place to sit and look over your class readings; just like that, you’re even more prepared to tackle the upcoming semester!
I know adjusting to college is scary, and adjusting to the city is even more terrifying. However, with these tips, your motivation, and your passion for education and exploring this beautiful city, there is no stopping you from reaching your full individualized potential here at NYU.